The royal party may not be so amused if the German runner Altano beats Estimate to win the Gold Cup at Ascot. Photograph: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

The German flag may be flying over Ascot on Ladies Day if Altano (3.45) can win the Gold Cup. Trained by Andreas Wöhler, he makes plenty of appeal at 20-1 in an open renewal of the famous marathon.

Germany has not been a consistent source of top-quality Flat horses but has enjoyed notable successes in the past two years, especially through Danedream, winner of the Arc and the King George for Peter Schiergen. Energizer, trained by Jens Hirschberger, gave the country its first Royal Ascot winner in a Group Three last year, while Chopin became a first German runner in the Derby this year and fared respectably.

Less than a fortnight ago, Schiergen's Amarillo turned up at Haydock for his British debut and won a Group Three at 10-1. Wöhler, whose highlights include victories in the Arlington Million and the Dubai Duty Free, has only managed one Listed winner in Britain from a handful of attempts, but he has saddled a runner-up in the Coronation Stakes and his Indomito was fourth to Frankel in last year's Queen Anne.

It seems that German raiders are routinely capable of competing in the best races around Europe and that British punters have not quite embraced the fact. Altano is certainly taking a step up in class but he has a fine strike-rate in recent seasons and seems on a gradual upward curve.

He is a very strong stayer and should be among the few to cope if there were a strong gallop throughout, as seems quite possible with 18 in the field. He will cope fine if rain arrives but would probably prefer a sound surface and looks like being in luck; the ground has been drying out all week as the threat (but actual absence) of rain has prevented artificial watering.

Wöhler's other runner, Earl Of Tinsdal, may be a late non-runner if no rain arrives, as he would not appreciate quick ground. It is hard to believe that the veteran Rite Of Passage, with his history of leg problems, wants fast ground either.

The Queen's filly Estimate still has plenty to prove for a horse at the head of the market, though she is on an upward curve. Saddlers Rock has the necessary talent but is unappealingly inconsistent. Simenon seems likely to run well, though the value has gone.

2.30Coach House is justifiably short in the market after the excellent showing of his stablemates in the Coventry, when Aidan O'Brien trained the first and third. Coach House was favourite for the Coventry at one stage but connections have clearly decided this shorter race was a better option for a horse who is bred to be fast and has won twice over five furlongs, including on fast ground last time.

3.05 Ireland's good run at the meeting petered out after the second race on Wednesday but momentum may be restored if Alive Alive Oh proves as good as she promises here. Trained by Tommy Stack, she could hardly have been more impressive with the way she quickened to win a Listed race at Navan in early May, after which she got single-figure quotes for the Oaks, which connections quickly ruled out. She has to prove she can cope with a decent racing surface.

4.25 Wentworth looks a serious prospect and is predictably a warm order for this. But there are other progressive types in the field and a concern would be that he may have been drawn on the wrong side, judging by the Hunt Cup and the Sandringham on Wednesday. Prophets Pride, from the in-form Jeremy Noseda yard, has been quietly progressive on the all-weather, should be fine on turf, has a bit in hand of his mark, is drawn on what seems the right side and wears cheekpieces for the first time. The 20-1 might prove a bit big.

5.00 O'Brien may be in the winner's enclosure again with Indian Chief, a close third in the Dante. That seemed disappointing at the time, as he started favourite and the yard had been mopping up Derby trials for fun, but the winner was a strong-finishing second in the Derby, while the runner-up has also boosted the form.

5.35 Brian Meehan has few stars but has managed a winner at each of the last two Royal Ascots and may get on the board with Eshtiaal. Bred to appreciate this trip, he improved to win on his handicap debut with some comfort, beating a subsequent winner with the rest stuffed out of sight. Raised 9lb, he has lots of scope to be in front of the assessor.